Defending Africa and World Youth Champions, the Black Satellites, this morning started their defends of the African title they won two years ago in Rwanda on a jerky note losing 1-2 to their Nigerian counterparts at the Dobsonville Stadium in South Africa.
The promised cracker lived up to its billing as both team came out at each other with the Nigerian's drawing first blood as early as the 17th minutes when a deflected cross from the right was flicked on by Abdul Ajagun and Innocent Nwofor was on hand to fire home the opening goal.
On 32 minutes Ghana drew level through striker Kwame Nsor after he soared up high to nod home a glancing header from a Richmond Nketiah corner from the near post.
From then on the game became a ding dong affair with the Ghanaians slightly on top and could have doubled the scores after a floating a free kick into the box from Enoch Andoh, fell to Nsor but he pulls his shot wide of target to end the half.
Back from recess the Nigerian's looked the stronger and after some anxious moments in both halves of the field wonder kid Innocent Uche Nwofor scored a stunning goal from a tight angle nine minutes from time to kill the game for his side who goes top of the table.
Ghana coach Orlando Wellington and his assistant Yaw Preko both blamed the defeat on tactical indiscipline on the part of players, adding that they were going to go back to the drawing board to strategize for the remaining matches.
Ghana will next play Gambia on Thursday before coming up against finalist two years ago Cameroon in the last group game on Sunday.
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Pix: Ghana skipper Osumanu Mahatma Otoo of Ghana gains the upperhand over onrushing Atanda Ganiu Ogungbe of Nigeria
The promised cracker lived up to its billing as both team came out at each other with the Nigerian's drawing first blood as early as the 17th minutes when a deflected cross from the right was flicked on by Abdul Ajagun and Innocent Nwofor was on hand to fire home the opening goal.
On 32 minutes Ghana drew level through striker Kwame Nsor after he soared up high to nod home a glancing header from a Richmond Nketiah corner from the near post.
From then on the game became a ding dong affair with the Ghanaians slightly on top and could have doubled the scores after a floating a free kick into the box from Enoch Andoh, fell to Nsor but he pulls his shot wide of target to end the half.
Back from recess the Nigerian's looked the stronger and after some anxious moments in both halves of the field wonder kid Innocent Uche Nwofor scored a stunning goal from a tight angle nine minutes from time to kill the game for his side who goes top of the table.
Ghana coach Orlando Wellington and his assistant Yaw Preko both blamed the defeat on tactical indiscipline on the part of players, adding that they were going to go back to the drawing board to strategize for the remaining matches.
Ghana will next play Gambia on Thursday before coming up against finalist two years ago Cameroon in the last group game on Sunday.
.
Pix: Ghana skipper Osumanu Mahatma Otoo of Ghana gains the upperhand over onrushing Atanda Ganiu Ogungbe of Nigeria
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